Abutilon plant named ‘ATN RT5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Abutilon  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by red and yellow flowers, large, glossy leaves, an upright, vigorous growth habit and a tall plant height. The new variety is an  Abutilon,  and naturally blooms from April to September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Abutilon vexillarium.

Variety denomination: ‘ATN RT5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation. The instant plant was found as a single plant from a planting of more than 1000 plants of ‘Abutilon red’ by Lucilene Anatriello in February 2004 in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ATN RT5’ by vegetative cuttings was performed in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type it successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ATN RT5’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ATN RT5.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ATN RT5’ as a new and distinct Abutilon cultivar:

-   -   1. Highly vigorous growth;     -   2. Numerous, dark green leaves;     -   5. Long blooming period; and     -   6. Deep red pigmentation on the petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ATN RT5’ are similar to plants of the parent, ‘Abutilon Red’, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ATN RT5’ are much taller and more vigorous than the parent. Additionally, the new variety has larger, darker green leaves as well as more leaves per lateral branch. The new variety resists dropping leaves and blooms two months longer than the parent variety. The new variety ‘ATN RT5’ also has deeper red pigmentation on the petals.

There is no similar commercial varieties available to compare to ‘ATN RT5’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘ATN RT5’ grown in an outdoor garden with a grouping of 15 other plants. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representative of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ATN RT5’ plants grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. from November 2004 to August 2005. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 30° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Abutilon vexillarium cultivar ‘ATN RT5.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 to 21 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright shrub. -   Height: Approximately 2.40 meters. -   Blooming period: April to September. -   Plant spread: Approximately 91.40 cm. -   Growth rate: Highly vigorous. -   Branching characteristics: Moderate upright branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 2.20 meters. -   Diameter of lateral branch: Approximately 0.8 cm. -   Color of lateral branch: Near Green 137A. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 72. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 220 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 15.2 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 16.4 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Palmate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Hastate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 137B.             Young foliage under side: Near Green 137C. Mature foliage             upper side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near             Green 137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Yellow-Green 148B. Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-Green 145A. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 9.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 143C.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.02 cm.

FLOWER

-   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Spherical.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Bud color.—Near Yellow 6A with strong red venation. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Bell-shape, with five unfused petals.         -   Facing direction.—Down.         -   Type.—Simple.         -   Aspect.—Concave.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Length of flower.—Approximately 4.5 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.         -   Length of petal.—Approximately 4 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Apex shape of petal.—Obtuse.         -   Petal margin.—Entire. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Yellow 12B with strong             red venation.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near Yellow 12B with strong red             venation.         -   Venation.—Near Red 46A.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Yellow-Orange 14A.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Yellow 12A.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Yellow 13A.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near Yellow-Orange 16A. -   Fragrance: None.

SEPAL

-   Number: 5; fused at base. -   Sepal shape: Lanceolate. -   Sepal length: Approximately 2.1 cm. -   Sepal width: Approximately 0.8 cm. -   Apex shape: Acute. -   Margin: Entire. -   Color: Inside sepal color near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B and outside     sepal color near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Width.—Approximately 0.05 cm.         -   Length.—Approximately 7.6 cm in length.         -   Angle to stem.—Downward from stem at 135 degree angle.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of pistils per floret: 1. -   Stigma shape: Globular. -   Stigma color: Near Red 45B. -   Style color: Near Yellow 4C. -   Style length: Approximately 4.6 cm. -   Stamens: Over 100 stamens. -   Anther shape: Globular. -   Anther color: Greyed-Orange 177A. -   Pollen color: Greyed-Orange 177A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy to 23° F. (−5° C.) and     will generally grow back from the base if the top is frozen. Drought     tolerance has not been observed. -   Fruit/seed production: Seed production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct Abutilon plant cultivar named ‘ATN RT5’ characterized by red and yellow flowers, large glossy leaves, an upright, vigorous growth habit and a tall plant height. 